A FIRE is still burning three days after it started.

The wood chip blaze bought roads to a stand-still and caused local businesses to close as fire fighters spent more than 80 hours trying to control the flames.

At one stage at least 18 appliances from across Essex were used to help put out the ten metre high flames.

The large wood pile, intended for recycling, went up at around 2.40am on January 5, covering an area of more than a hectare at the Birchwood Industrial Estate in Nazeing.

People living nearby were advised to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed, and arrangements were underway for a rest centre to be set up.

Manager at Orbital Engineering on Hoe Lane, where the fire started, said it will be burning for weeks.

Darren Williams added: "We have got so many problems here at the moment I really don't have time to say more, but the fire is still very much alight."

An onlooker working at the Birchwood Industrial Estate said it was "still going strong."

Guven Salih added: "The crews are still here. They are trying to control it.

We had to empty our yard because we have gas cylinders. One of the fire crew said it could last a week or two.

No one can work here and we're just covering the office because the fire crew are using our yard. It's still burning badly."

Matt Crispin first noticed the flames on his way into work on Hoe Lane.

He said: "The road was closed by the police and I could see a massive pile of wood on fire. It's still alight now but it's under control."

Flames dwarfed fire fighters as they worked hard to control the blaze spreading further.

Incident Commander Divisional Officer Andy Stapleton said: "Fire crews have done an excellent job to stop the fire from spreading to other business units."

It is not known how the fire started and an investigation will be carried out once it has been extinguished.

Two fire appliances now remain at the incident.